Not for long were the shoes to repose in their warm box lined with paper and inscribed with the name „Salamander". Not for long could they call it their home. They were roused from their blissful unconsciousness of the world by a rustling. Light. The eyes of a peeking saleswoman. And then... the first encounter with their Rosie ... They were sweetly beige, fragrant with leather. That day was their date of birth. At last she could stain their virgin purity with her sweaty socks! The right shoe was a good fit, but the left somehow resisted. What have we here? - Rosie wonders, feeling something waiting in the toe. A hideous spider? All she pulls out is a crumpled ball of paper...
It was a promotional flyer for an unknown political party.
"Welcome, Good-looking!," it said, "Enjoy your new shoes until you wear out. Engineer Mirin Flirkal's new political party wishes you beautiful experiences shod or barefoot. Visit us at our headquarters located on Milada Horakova Street 7, Prague 7. Everybody who joins our party gets a free new pair of shoes quarterly. That's the kind of party we are.
Freedom, wealth and fortune and prosperity for all!
More information about our party is available at the above address. We look forward to seeing you!"
So what? Well, why not? Rosie loves beautiful shoes. And, let's admit it, she's never been remotely grabbed by any of the programmes of the existing political parties. Freedom, wealth and prosperity? It's what we all want, isn't it? And what we've fought for, too! Admittedly, Italian shoes don't further the cause of freedom, but they don't hinder it either. Definitely worth checking out. Who knows if the offer still applies? Maybe all the shoes have been taken.
She put the lid back on the box. She went hot and cold. Get going for heaven's sake, or they'll only have some stupid slippers left... "Taxi," she whined, her voice fading with dread.